A 93-year-old woman who once worked as a model died after being eaten alive by scabies. According to a lawsuit obtained by 11 Alive, Rebecca Zeni died at a LaFayette, Georgia, nursing home in 2015 after months or possibly years of being devoured by millions of parasitic mites.An autopsy report showed Zeni's cause of death was “septicemia due to crusted scabies.” Scabies is a painful condition in which parasitic mites burrow into skin, lay eggs and feed off of the host's body. Mike Prieto, a lawyer representing Zeni’s family, claims by the time she died, her right hand had turned nearly black and her fingers were about to fall off.“I don’t understand how you can allow a human being to suffer needlessly,” said Prieto.According to the Washington Post, Zeni was once a great beauty with an incredible work ethic. In the 1940s and 1950s, she became a model in New York City and worked as an assistant for CBS News’s Mike Wallace.Zeni's daughter, Pamela Puryear, said she moved her mother, who suffered from dementia, to Shepherd Hills Nursing Home in 2010.Her family is now suing Pruitt Health, which operates Shepherd Hills Nursing Home.Asked to view Zeni's autopsy report, forensic pathologist Dr. Kris Sperry said it was "one of the most horrendous things I’ve ever seen in my career." Sperry believes hundreds of millions of mites were living inside the elderly woman when she died and that she was essentially "eaten alive." “I would seriously consider calling this a homicide by neglect," he said. State officials were told of a scabies outbreak at the facility in 2013 and 2015. Instead of inspecting the facility, a state health department employee emailed staff a manual on how to treat scabies.Attorneys for Zeni's family say the nursing home did not take necessary steps to keep the outbreak contained. Sheets used by those infected were washed with those of the general population, residents with scabies were not quarantined and infected staffers continued to work. An affidavit by Debi Luther, a nurse who reviewed Zeni's medical records, stated that her death was the result of Shepherd Hills Nursing Home failing to recognize her deteriorating condition and prevent the spread of scabies. “It’s a nightmare,” Puryear said. “There was no dignity.”

LAFAYETTE, Ga. —

A 93-year-old woman who once worked as a model died after being eaten alive by scabies.

According to a lawsuit obtained by 11 Alive, Rebecca Zeni died at a LaFayette, Georgia, nursing home in 2015 after months or possibly years of being devoured by millions of parasitic mites.

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An autopsy report showed Zeni's cause of death was “septicemia due to crusted scabies.” Scabies is a painful condition in which parasitic mites burrow into skin, lay eggs and feed off of the host's body.

Mike Prieto, a lawyer representing Zeni’s family, claims by the time she died, her right hand had turned nearly black and her fingers were about to fall off.

“I don’t understand how you can allow a human being to suffer needlessly,” said Prieto.

According to the Washington Post, Zeni was once a great beauty with an incredible work ethic. In the 1940s and 1950s, she became a model in New York City and worked as an assistant for CBS News’s Mike Wallace.

Zeni's daughter, Pamela Puryear, said she moved her mother, who suffered from dementia, to Shepherd Hills Nursing Home in 2010.

Her family is now suing Pruitt Health, which operates Shepherd Hills Nursing Home.

Asked to view Zeni's autopsy report, forensic pathologist Dr. Kris Sperry said it was "one of the most horrendous things I’ve ever seen in my career."

Sperry believes hundreds of millions of mites were living inside the elderly woman when she died and that she was essentially "eaten alive."

“I would seriously consider calling this a homicide by neglect," he said.

State officials were told of a scabies outbreak at the facility in 2013 and 2015. Instead of inspecting the facility, a state health department employee emailed staff a manual on how to treat scabies.

Attorneys for Zeni's family say the nursing home did not take necessary steps to keep the outbreak contained. Sheets used by those infected were washed with those of the general population, residents with scabies were not quarantined and infected staffers continued to work.

An affidavit by Debi Luther, a nurse who reviewed Zeni's medical records, stated that her death was the result of Shepherd Hills Nursing Home failing to recognize her deteriorating condition and prevent the spread of scabies.